DECEMBER 22, 1944

WASHINGTON, Thursday—Yesterday was a day of many appointments, and they covered many subjects.

I had a very young gentleman come because he is writing an article for his school
paper. He is in military school and concerned about their future place in our educational
system. Several very much older gentlemen and one or two ladies also came to see me.
They are concerned about political questions both from the practical, personal point
of view and from the more academic and objective point of view!

Some friends of varying ages came to lunch and another friend shared our evening meal,
after which we spent a quiet evening and took the midnight train back to Washington.

I love the view from our New York apartment window, with the lights shining on Washington
Square. A light fall of snow and the brightly lit Christmas tree gave the whole scene
a Christmas aspect.

The news from Europe has been so bad that I cannot help thinking of the weariness
and disappointment of the men who have taken these miles of enemy territory and are
now being driven back.

The Germans, of course, have progressively less territory to defend. Once upon a time
they were spread all over Europe, but as they are thrown back onto their own land,
their lines of communication are shorter and their lines of defense more concentrated.
Setbacks like these must, of course, be expected, but it makes one's heart ache to
think of the gloom and disappointment among our soldiers and the news of individual
losses, which will come increasingly often knocking at our doors. Three people I have
heard of today can hardly face the Christmas season with a joyous spirit, and my heart
is heavy for the accumulated sorrow all about us.

An article which appeared the other day in a California paper contained the suggestion
that instead of putting up monuments to the dead in towns and villages all over our
country, we build universities and endow scholarships and pick the ablest young men
and women we can find in all the countries of the world to attend these schools. In
these universities special emphasis is to be laid on government training for international
affairs—languages, world economics, history, government—everything which will equip
people to deal better with each other in this field. Since young people will be brought
together from various places, they will get to know each other and will not be strangers
when they meet again in the diplomatic and consular services, as well as in legislative
and administrative positions in their various countries.

Perhaps there may be something in this idea. I have always felt that stone monuments,
with the names of the young people inscribed on them, did us comparatively little
good, and I would far rather see something done to help future generations. The memory
of the youth that has fought this war, and saved our civilization for us once again,
can be fittingly honored only by finding ways to keep the peace.